Electrolytic depilation device

ABSTRACT

The electrolytic depilation device works by electrical contact with the skin of an individual whose hair is to be treated by electrolysis. It comprises a case containing an electrical power supply source, an electronic control circuit connected to the electrical power supply source for supplying a first electrode and a second electrode of different polarity. The electrodes are located at a distance from one another to apply a current that initiates electrolysis at the level of the hairs to be treated. At least the first electrode is elongated and located on one of the ends of the case so as to be applied against the skin over its entire length. The electrode has a shape that is convex in cross section.

TECHNICAL DOMAIN

This invention relates to an electrolytic device for depilation by electrical contact with the skin of an individual whose hair is to be treated by electrolysis.

In depilation devices of this type, a continuous current supplied to the entry of a hair follicle is used to reach the papilla joined to the root of the hair and to consequently chemically destroy the papilla by galvanic electrolysis. The liquid contained in the tissue then constitutes an electrolyte during this procedure. Thanks to this electrolysis the root of the hair is destroyed and its regrowth is greatly delayed.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrolytic depilation devices are known in which several needles are used to implement depilation by electrolysis. These needles must be applied to the vicinity of the papillae of the hairs to be treated. The needles comprise first electrodes inserted into the skin of the individual in the vicinity of the respective papilla, whereas a second electrode is placed on the skin for circulation of current.

One disadvantage of these depilation devices it that it is difficult to distribute the current equally among all the needles. One solution to this problem is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,363, but the device described there is relatively complicated and difficult to use.

Likewise tweezer electrolysis depilation devices are known that comprise a needle that forms the electrode which must be inserted into the hair follicle. Such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,136, but the double treatment it offers is complex and it is difficult to handle this device effectively and quickly.

Another tweezer electrolysis depilation device comprising a needle that forms the electrode is known from GB 2296867 which proposes facilitating current return by making part of the handle of the device electrically conductive.

Again, another electrolytic depilation device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,300. This device comprises several needles that form the electrodes and an electrically conductive grating which is located in front of the needles to comprise a ground surface as it is being applied against the skin of the individual to be treated. This device operates by electrical discharges intended to destroy the hair follicles.

Moreover a device for depilation by electrolysis is known that comprises a case containing an electrical power supply source and an electronic control circuit. This case can be electrically connected to a stylus that forms the electrode for treatment of facial hair, and to patches that comprise electrodes of varied shapes adapted to different parts of the human body. However, the use of a stylus is tedious and the patches must be applied carefully relative to one another in order to be effective.

In light of this prior art and disadvantages linked to the aforementioned known devices, the object of the invention is to propose a simple electrolytic depilation device that is effective and extremely easy to handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is an electrolytic device for depilation by electrical contact with the skin of an individual whose hair is to be treated by electrolysis, comprising a case containing an electrical power supply source, an electronic control circuit connected to said electrical supply source for supplying a first electrode and a second electrode of different polarity, located at a distance from one another to apply a current that initiates electrolysis at the level of the hairs to be treated.

The electrolytic depilation device according to the invention is characterized in that at least said first electrode is elongated and located on one of the ends of said case to be applied against the skin over its entire length.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

-   -   said first electrode has a shape which is convex in cross         section;     -   said convex shape is essentially cylindrical;     -   said second electrode comprises a metal plate that is fastened         on the outer surface of said case and that is able to come into         contact with a hand of a user;     -   said second electrode has a shape similar to that of the first         electrode and extends parallel to it on said end of said case;     -   said second electrode has essentially the same length as that of         said first electrode and said second electrode has a width less         than that of said first electrode;     -   at least said first electrode comprises a metal sheet connected         to a support fastened to said end of said case, said first         electrode exactly following the shape of a convex part in a         cross section of said support;     -   said first and second electrodes are connected to said support         and said support comprises a spacer element extending between         said electrodes so as to define an insulating gap between the         electrodes;     -   said first electrode is an electrically positive electrode         placed in front of said second electrode in the direction of         movement of the device on the skin;     -   said electronic control circuit comprises a processor containing         several stored programs allowing differentiated treatments;     -   said electrical supply source comprises at least one battery         integrated into the device.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two nonlimiting embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is described with reference to the attached figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a support bearing two electrodes according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the components shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the components shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a support bearing one electrode according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of one of the ends of the device according to the invention provided with means for fastening an electrode support;

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view showing two electrodes in the form of sheets, before their fastening and forming on the support shown in FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating an electrode support connected to a printed circuit card; and

FIG. 10 is a synoptic diagram illustrating the operation of the device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the figures, the same or equivalent components will have the same reference numbers.

A first embodiment of the electrolytic depilation device 1 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. This depilation device comprises a case 2 composed of two half-shells 3, 4 connected to one another by connecting means (not shown). In a manner known in the art, the case conventionally contains an electrical power supply source 5 connected to an electronic control circuit 6 (FIGS. 9 and 10).

The electronic control circuit 6 is thus connected to this electrical power supply source to feed a first electrode 7 and a second electrode 8 of different polarity, located at a distance from one another to apply a current that initiates electrolysis at the level of the hairs to be treated (not shown).

Preferably the electrical power supply source 5 comprises one or more batteries (not shown) that are integrated into the depilation device 1. The voltage of each battery is preferably 1.2 V and with three batteries in series, 3.6 V are thus obtained. These batteries deliver a continuous current varying from about 100 to about 160 mA. The batteries can be connected to the main electric grid using a charger (not shown) to charge them.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, at least the first electrode 7 is elongated and located on one of the ends of the case 2. It is intended to be applied against the skin over its entire length.

According to another important characteristic of the invention, at least this first electrode 7 has a convex shape. This convex shape is preferably essentially cylindrical.

In this way, only one part of the electrode 7 is in contact with the skin in a more or less large contact area parallel to the generating line of the electrode and it is possible to simultaneously treat all the hairs located in this limited area.

The surface of this contact area varies according to the morphology of the skin at the application site and to the force of application of the device which should be relatively slight.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the second electrode 8 has a shape similar to that of the first electrode 7 and is located on the same end of the case, extending parallel to the first electrode 7.

The first electrode 7 is an electrically positive electrode placed in front of the second electrode 8 in the direction of movement of the device 2 on the skin, this direction of movement being indicated by an arrow in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6.

The second electrode 8 preferably has essentially the same length as that of the first electrode 7, whereas its width is less than that of the first electrode 7.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first electrode 7′ covers the entire surface of one of the ends of the device 1, whereas the second electrode 8′ is composed of a metal plate 9 fitted into and attached to the outer surface of the case 2. In this embodiment the metal plate 9 must be in contact with the hand of the user to ensure negative current return contact.

The first and second electrodes 7, 8 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are connected to an essentially rectangular support 10 fastened to the end of the case 2 using two opposing straight grooves 10 a provided on the sides of the support 10 which accommodate ribs forming a slide 3 a of complementary shape, which ribs are provided on the inside surface of the half-shell 3 of the case 2.

The first and second electrodes 7, 8 are advantageously comprised of a relatively thin, essentially rectangular metal sheet which exactly follows the shape of the convex part of the support 10, preferably essentially cylindrical. These metal sheets are shown in FIG. 8, before their forming on the support.

Each metal sheet that forms an electrode is provided on one of its corners with a projection 11 that forms a contact blade linked to an electrical connection (not shown) within the case 2.

The support 10 comprises a separate spacer element 12 extending between the first and second electrodes 7, 8 so as to define an insulating gap between the electrodes.

The spacer element 12 is dimensioned to be used also as a means of tightening the sheets forming the electrodes 7, 8 against an inner bearing surface of the support 10.

The first electrode 7′ in the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is also comprised of such a thin metal sheet.

The thin metal sheets comprising the electrodes 7, 7′ and 8 are fastened to the support 10 using pins 13 provided on the periphery of the support. These pins 13 are aligned with holes 14 provided in the metal sheets (see FIG. 8).

Another means of fastening the metal sheets consists in inserting them into the gap that has not yet been filled by the separate spacer element 12, joining the two ends of each sheet by making them overlap one another, and fastening the ends together with screws against the back surface of the support 10.

The supply of electric current from the power supply source 5 is controlled by a start-stop push button 15 located on the front surface of the depilation device 1.

The electronic control circuit 6 of the depilation device 1 comprises preferably a processor 16 containing several stored programs allowing differentiated treatments for the hair on the face, the armpits and the legs.

Advantageously the start-stop push button 15 can moreover be used for selection of the desired program.

A control wheel 17 projects through an opening on the side of the case 2 in order to allow adjustment of the electrolysis current intensity. Advantageously an indicator light 18 such as a LED, is placed on the front surface of the case to indicate the current state of the depilation device.

The electrolytic depilation device according to the invention must be used with a conductive gel (not shown) previously applied to the area of the skin to be treated. This gel is advantageously hydrating, soothing and imparts an anti-regrowth effect.

Thus, thanks to the invention, an electrolytic depilation device is obtained that eliminates the drawbacks of known electrolytic depilation devices and that is moreover very compact by forming a single unit, very light, that can be held in the hand and that is extremely easy to manipulate.

Of course the invention is not limited to the illustrated and described examples which can be modified by one skilled in the art without thereby going outside the framework of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the following claims. 

1. Electrolytic device for depilation by electrical contact with the skin of an individual whose hair is to be treated by electrolysis, comprising a case containing an electrical power supply source, an electronic control circuit connected to said electrical power supply source for supplying a first electrode and a second electrode of different polarity, located at a distance from one another to apply a current that initiates electrolysis at the level of the hairs to be treated, characterized in that at least said first electrode is elongated and located on one of the ends of said case so as to be applied against the skin over its entire length.
 2. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 1, wherein said first electrode has a shape that is convex in cross section.
 3. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 2, wherein said convex shape is essentially cylindrical.
 4. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 1, wherein said second electrode comprises a metal plate that is fastened on the outer surface of said case and that is able to come into contact with the hand of a user.
 5. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 1, wherein said second electrode has a shape similar to that of the first electrode and extends parallel to it on said end of said case.
 6. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 5, wherein said second electrode has essentially the same length as that of said first electrode and said second electrode has a width less than that of said first electrode.
 7. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 1, wherein at least said first electrode comprises a metal sheet connected to a support fastened on said end of said case, said first electrode exactly following the shape of the convex part in a cross section of said support.
 8. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 7, wherein said first and second electrodes are connected to said support and wherein said support comprises a spacer element extending between said electrodes so as to define an insulating gap between the electrodes.
 9. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 1, wherein said first electrode is an electrically positive electrode placed in front of said second electrode in the direction of movement of the device on the skin.
 10. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control circuit comprises a processor containing several stored programs allowing differentiated treatments.
 11. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 1, wherein said electrical power supply source comprises at least one battery integrated into the device.
 12. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 2, wherein said second electrode comprises a metal plate that is fastened on the outer surface of said case and that is able to come into contact with the hand of a user.
 13. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 3, wherein said second electrode comprises a metal plate that is fastened on the outer surface of said case and that is able to come into contact with the hand of a user.
 14. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 2, wherein said second electrode has a shape similar to that of the first electrode and extends parallel to it on said end of said case.
 15. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 3, wherein said second electrode has a shape similar to that of the first electrode and extends parallel to it on said end of said case.
 16. Electrolytic depilation device according to claim 4, wherein said second electrode has a shape similar to that of the first electrode and extends parallel to it on said end of said case. 